The Supreme State Security Prosecution
Detention renewal hearings:
On January 15, the Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of human rights lawyer Ahmed Nazeer El-Helw, for 15 additional days, pending investigations into case No. 1940 of 2020 (Supreme State Security), in which El-Helw is charged with joining a terrorist group.
In the previous hearing, the Prosecution renewed El-Helw’s detention despite his absence, as it was impossible to transfer him from his prison cell to the hearing location, which violates the Criminal Procedure Code that requires the defendants to be present to hear their statements.
January 16 hearings:
The Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed Abdel Aal Abou El-Dahab’s detention for 15 days in connection with case No. 2094 of 2022 (Supreme State Security). The very same case in which Ziad Abo El-Fadl and others are convicted.
Abou El-Dahab is a worker at a shoe factory from Moharam Bek in Alexandria. He was arrested on November 10 and was illegally detained for four days before being brought before the prosecution, which charged him with joining a terrorist group, committing the crime of financing terrorism, using social media to promote a terrorist act, participating in a criminal agreement to commit a terrorist crime (demonstrations), inciting to commit a terrorist crime (demonstrations), and spreading false news and statements.
Similarly, the Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed Mohamed Raafat Nasr’s detention for 15 days in connection with case No. 1977 of 2022 (Supreme State Security).
Security forces arrested Nasr on November 2 from Alexandria Governorate; after a week of illegal detention, he appeared before the prosecution against charges of joining a terrorist group, committing the crime of financing terrorism, using social media to call for a terrorist act, participating in a criminal agreement intended to commit a terrorist crime, incitement to commit a terrorist crime, publishing and spreading false news and information.
The Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of 40 years-old Mohamed Mahmoud Abou Mandour for 15 days in connection with case No. 2216 of 2022 (State Security).
Abou Mandour was illegally detained for almost two weeks. He reported to his lawyers that he was physically assaulted through electric shocks, blindfolding, and tying his hands behind him. During the first interrogation session, the Prosecution confronted Abou Mandour with several posts published by a Facebook account, which Abou Mandour denied his ownership of the account.
The Prosecution charged Abou Mandour with joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its aims, committing the crime of financing terrorism, inciting to commit a terrorist act, spreading false news and information that would disturb public peace and order, and using an account on social media to commit a terrorist crime.
On January 19, the Supreme State Security renewed Ahmed Oraby’s detention for 15 days in connection with investigations into case No. 2094 of 2022 (Supreme State Security).
And Similar to the approach that the Prosecution follows when investigating political activists, the Prosecution confronted Oraby with 15 posts expressing his political opinions, therefore; Oraby was charged with joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its aims, committing the crime of financing terrorism, inciting to commit a terrorist crime, participating in the criminal agreement to commit a terrorist crime, spreading false news and information, and using an account on the Internet to commit a terrorist crime.
Releases:
The Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to release visual artist Amir Abdel Ghani, under the guarantee of his place of residence, in connection with case No. 1635 of 2022 (Supreme State Security Prosecution).
Abdel Ghani was listed in this case against the backdrop of Facebook posts, most of which are dated years back, regarding the price hikes of painting supplies. He also faced charges of joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its aims, spreading false news and statements that would harm public peace and order, and using a social media account to spread false news and information.
The Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to release Alexandrian activist Hassan Mostafa, under the guarantee of his place of residence, pending case No. 1898 of 2019 (Supreme State Security).
Mostafa was arrested from his workplace in Alexandria in December 2019; before being investigated before the Prosecution, Mostafa was detained for two weeks, during which he was physically assaulted with fists and sticks; his mother also died on her way to Alexandria after the prison administration refused to allow her to see her son.
Hassan faced charges of promoting a terrorist group, spreading false news and information, and misusing social media.
